MSPs heading an inquiry into the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh building fire have rejected the submission of a key report after a construction company refused to release it unless the contents were kept from the public.

Kier, the building company renovating the building after the 2014 fire, implemented a fire prevention strategy that MSPs on the culture, tourism, Europe and external affairs committee asked to read, The Sunday Times reports.

But Kier told them that it could only be released to the committee on the condition that the contents were kept private until a Scottish Fire and Rescue investigation into the blaze is completed.

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MSPs rejected the report altogether and described themselves as "disappointed" that they could not put it in the public domain.

It contains details of the fire safety measures implemented by Kier after their £35m renovation of the building began.

Joan McAlpine, the SNP MSP who convenes the committee, told The Sunday Times: “We asked Kier for the report because we wanted to see if any enhanced measures were put in place due to the previous fire and the iconic status of the building.”

“Kier offered to share the report with us on the basis it could not be published. I found that unacceptable, as in the interests of transparency it should be in the public domain, and the committee decided not to accept the report on that basis. We were disappointed.”

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Stephen Mackenzie, a fire safety consultant who is due to give evidence at the inquiry this week, raised questions about "responding or responsible parties...forbidding public disclosure".

A spokeswoman for Kier said: “Since the fire, Kier has been working to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s investigation to establish its cause.

“We have also been co-operating fully with the Scottish parliament’s culture, tourism, Europe and external affairs committee inquiry, and will continue to do so.”

The committee will next meet to discuss the fire on Thursday 17 January.